Transition year student wins Dell laptop in DCU website competition
- 22 February 2007

Aron Day (16), a transition-year student in St. Paul's College, Raheny, has won the first prize of a laptop computer for best website at DCU's transition year computing course. Aron, who said that he found ComputeTY to be a great experience, was one of the 518 students who took part in this year's ComputeTY course. ComputeTY, now in its third year running at DCU's School of Computing, is a week-long course for transition-year students. Students such as Aron learn to design their own websites on a topic of their choice. The prize of a Dell Inspiron laptop was donated by Dell Ireland.

Aron added "I learnt a lot and it has really encouraged me to pursue the graduate course in Software Engineering in DCU. And thanks to Dell, Lero and DCU for my prize too!"

ComputeTY 2007 was held in the computer labs at DCU's School of Computing from 8th January to 2nd February. ComputeTY received financial support from Lero -- the Irish Software Engineering Research Centre.

Dr. Stephen Blott, Head of the School of Computing at DCU, commented "ComputeTY is a great vehicle to introduce transition-year students to computing and its great career prospects."

The latest DCU IT job survey shows that the number of job vacancies in the sector is 13,900 - an increase of 26% on the last survey in May 2006. Dr. Blott added: "Hopefully, for some students these are the first steps towards a rewarding career in the growing IT industry in Ireland."

Every week a different group of students from a total of 12 schools from DCU's surrounding area attended, including: Holy Faith Secondary School, Clontarf; Colaiste Choilm, Swords; The Donahies Community School, Donaghmede; St. Paul's College, Raheny; St Mary's HFC, Glasnevin; St Michael's Holy Faith, Finglas; Mercy College, Coolock; St Aidan's CBS, Whitehall; Manor House School, Raheny, St Joseph's CBS, Fairview; Mount Temple Comprehensive School, Clontarf and Patrician College, Finglas.

Aron's website and those of all the participating students can be viewed at: www.computing.dcu.ie/computety .

For further information, please contact: Public Affairs and Media Relations Office, DCU

ENDS